Adjustable timer

ABSTRACT

An adjustable timer teaches time in a simple manner to those having difficulty understanding the concept of time. The timer displays remaining and elapsed time. The timer may be set to rotate a shaft at different speeds. A colored disk is attached to the shaft. Boards having faces with different numerical indicia reside in a cavity and may be interchanged by a user. The exposed board face corresponds to the setting of the timer such that one full rotation of the shaft and disk corresponds to the numerical indicia of the exposed board face.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for teachingtime and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method of displayingremaining and elapsed time.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Numerous timers show elapsed time in a visual form. U.S. Pat. No.5,662,479 discloses a timer which discloses a disk which moves in aclockwise direction to visualize the amount of time left from asixty-minute period. Numerical indicia marks printed on a stationaryface illustrate the sixty-minute period. A battery powers a controlmodule which rotates an output shaft to which the disk is attached. Thecontrol module rotates the output shaft at an appropriate speed suchthat one full rotation of the output shaft equals one full rotation ofthe disk. As the disk rotates in the clockwise direction the visibleportion of the disk decreases indicating to the user than a certainamount of time remains from the original time.

One of the limitations is that the output shaft rotates only at onespeed such that a full rotation of the shaft equals sixty minutes or onehour. Consequently, the numerical indicial printed on the timer'sdisplay face are in increments which add up to sixty minutes. The timeris not suitable for displaying elapsed or remaining times greater thanone hour. For example, the timer of U.S. Pat. No. 5,662,479 is notsuitable for someone wishing to visualize how much time remains from aninitial period of two hours. Additionally, the timer of U.S. Pat. No.5,662,479 is not ideal for someone wishing to visualize how much timeremains from an initial period of thirty minutes.

Therefore, there is a need for a visual timer having a control modulewhich may be adjusted to rotate at different speeds.

There is further a need for a visual timer using a rotating disk whichmay display elapsed or remaining times greater than one hour.

There is further a need for a visual timer using a rotating disk whichmay display elapsed or remaining time and has a full displayrepresenting a period less than one hour.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, an apparatus for displayingremaining and elapsed time comprises a generally rectangular body havinga generally rectangular front tray and a generally rectangular rear traysecured to the generally rectangular front tray. The generallyrectangular front tray of the generally rectangular body has a circularrecess.

The generally rectangular body has a battery compartment for storing atleast one battery. The at least one battery powers a control modulelocated between the generally rectangular front and rear trays of thegenerally rectangular body. The control module includes a shaft whichrotates at different speeds such that one full rotation of the shaftfinishes after five minutes or fifteen minutes or thirty minutes or onehour or two hours or four hours or eight hours, for example. Any othertimes may be incorporated into the control module and apparatus. Todetermine the speed or rate at which the shaft rotates, a user rotates aknob behind the apparatus to a predetermined, marked location whichcontrols the control module's rate of rotation of the shaft.

A rotatable colored disk is located in the recess of the generallyrectangular front tray. The rotatable colored disk is secured to theshaft such that the rotatable colored disk rotates with the shaft. Astationary background disk is secured in the recess of the generallyrectangular front tray in front of the rotatable colored disk. Thestationary background disk has a slit through which a portion of therotatable colored disk passes such that upon rotation of the shaft aportion of the rotatable colored disk rotates in front of the stationarybackground disk and becomes visible to the user. In the preferredembodiment, the shaft and rotatable colored disk rotate in a clockwisedirection as time elapses. However, the shaft and rotatable colored diskmay rotate in the counterclockwise direction as time passes. A circularlens located in front of the stationary background disk is secured tothe generally rectangular front tray.

Boards are removable secured in a cavity in the generally rectangularfront tray of the generally rectangular body with at least one biasingmember. In one embodiment, the biasing members are tabs integrallyformed with the generally rectangular front tray. Each of the boards hasopposing faces and a circular opening through which the circular lenspasses. At least one of the boards has numerical indicia marks on eachface of the board to indicate different time periods. Each of the timeperiods corresponds to one of the time periods programmed into thecontrol module. The generally rectangular body has openings therethroughto enable a user to remove one or more boards from the cavity of thegenerally rectangular front tray to expose a different face of the sameboard or a different board.

A positioner is secured to the shaft in front of the circular lens toenable a user to manually set the initial position of the rotatablecolored disk inside the circular lens to indicate a desired time to beelapsed. In some embodiments, a generally U-shaped mounting stand ispivotally secured to the generally rectangular body.

In a second aspect, an apparatus for displaying remaining and elapsedtime comprises a body having a front tray and a rear tray secured to thefront tray. The front tray has a circular recess and a border. Theapparatus further comprises a control module and at least one batterylocated between the front and rear trays of the body. The control moduleis powered by the at least one battery. The control module includes ashaft which rotates at different rates. The rate of rotation or speed ofthe shaft is set by a knob connected to the control module.

A colored disk located in the circular recess of the front tray issecured to the shaft and rotates with the shaft at the same speed toindicate remaining and elapsed time. The colored disk has a slit whichallows the colored disk to move relative to a stationary backgrounddisk. The stationary background disk is secured to the front tray infront of the colored disk. The stationary background disk has a slitthrough which a portion of the colored disk passes upon rotation of theshaft such that a portion of the colored disk is visible in front of thestationary background disk. A positioner secured to the shaft in frontof the circular lens enables a person to manually set the position ofthe colored disk.

Boards are removable secured in a cavity in the front tray of the bodywith at least one biasing member. Each of the boards has numericalindicia on at least one face of the board to indicate different timeperiods. Each of the time periods corresponds to one of the time periodsprogrammed into the control module. The boards may be pushed out of thecavity by a user using openings extending through the body.

In a third aspect, an apparatus for displaying remaining and elapsedtime comprises a body has a front tray and a rear tray secured together.The front tray of the body has a generally planar floor comprising agenerally planar outer portion and circular recess extending rearwardlyfrom the generally planar outer portion. The body has a batterycompartment for storing at least one battery. The at least one batterypowers a control module located in the body. The control moduledetermines the speed at which a shaft rotates to rotate a colored disksecured to the shaft to indicate elapsed and remaining time. Boards areremovable secured in a cavity in the front tray of the body with atleast one biasing member. At least one of the boards contacts thegenerally planar outer portion of the floor of the front tray of thebody. Each of the boards has an opening through which a lens passes. Atleast one of the boards has numerical indicia marks on each face of theboard to indicate different time periods. Each of the time periodscorresponds to one of the time periods programmed into the controlmodule.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and,together with the summary of the invention given above, and the detaileddescription of the drawings given below, explain the principles of thepresent invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an adjustable timer.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the adjustable timer of FIG. 1showing a mounting stand in a first position.

FIG. 3 is a partially disassembled view of the adjustable timer of FIG.1.

FIG. 3A is a rear perspective view of the front tray of the adjustabletimer of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, partially broken away, of theadjustable timer of FIG. 1 showing the mounting stand in a firstposition.

FIG. 4A is a side elevational view of the adjustable timer of FIG. 1showing the mounting stand in a second position.

FIG. 4B is a side elevational view of the adjustable timer of FIG. 1showing the mounting stand in a third position.

FIG. 4C is a front view of the adjustable timer of FIG. 1 with adifferent face exposed showing the mounting stand in the third position.

FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5A-5A of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view like FIG. 5A showing the mountingstand being moved to its second position.

FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional view like FIG. 5A showing the mountingstand in its third position.

FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 6A-6A of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view like FIG. 6A showing the mountingstand being moved to its second position.

FIG. 6C is a cross-sectional view like FIG. 6A showing the mountingstand in its second position.

FIG. 6D is a cross-sectional view like FIG. 6A showing the mountingstand in its third position.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view like FIG. 7 showing the adjustabletimer hanging from a fastener secured into a wall.

FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view like FIG. 7 showing a wall mountsecuring the adjustable timer to a wall.

FIG. 8C is a cross-sectional view like FIG. 7 showing the adjustabletimer hanging from the timer's mounting stand with “S-shaped” fasteners.

FIG. 8D is a cross-sectional view like FIG. 7 showing the wall mountsecured with fasteners into a wall and the mounting stand of theadjustable timer hanging from the wall mount.

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of the adjustable timer showing thethree boards spaced from each other in front of the timer.

FIG. 10A is a schematic cross-sectional view taken generally along theline 10A-10A of FIG. 9.

FIG. 10B is a schematic cross-sectional view like FIG. 10A showing thethree boards being pushed out of the cavity of the adjustable timer.

FIG. 11A is a front view of one face of a first board of the adjustabletimer.

FIG. 11B is a front view of the opposite face of the first board of theadjustable timer.

FIG. 11C is a front view of one face of a second board of the adjustabletimer.

FIG. 11D is a front view of the opposite face of the second board of theadjustable timer.

FIG. 11E is a front view of one face of a third board of the adjustabletimer.

FIG. 11F is a front view of the opposite face of the third board of theadjustable timer.

FIG. 11G is a front view of one face of a first additional board of theadjustable timer.

FIG. 11H is a front view of the opposite face of the first additionalboard of the adjustable timer.

FIG. 11I is a front view of one face of a second additional board of theadjustable timer.

FIG. 11J is a front view of the opposite face of the second additionalboard of the adjustable timer.

FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of the adjustable timer of FIG. 1without any boards in the cavity and with markers in place.

FIG. 12A is an enlarged view of the encircled area 12A of FIG. 12.

FIG. 13A is a schematic cross-sectional view taken generally along theline 13A-13A of FIG. 12.

FIG. 13B is a schematic cross-sectional view like FIG. 13A showing thetop marker being secured in place.

FIG. 14 is a partially disassembled view the mounting stand and thestructure used to secure it in three different positions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring first to FIG. 1, there is illustrated an adjustable timer 10incorporating the principles of the present invention. As best shown inFIG. 3, the adjustable timer 10 comprises a generally rectangular body12 including a generally rectangular front tray 14 and a generallyrectangular rear tray 16. For purposes of this document, the term “tray”is not intended to be limited by the drawings herein or any dictionarydefinition. As best shown in FIG. 7, when assembled, the front and reartrays 14, 16 are secured together with any convention means includingfasteners.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the front tray 14 of the adjustable timer 10 isunitary molded plastic piece having a border 18 around the perimeter ofa floor 20. The border 18 extends forwardly from the floor 20. Theborder 18 and floor 20 define a cavity 22 in which double faced boardsreside, as described below. As best shown in FIG. 3, the floor 20 has acircular recess 24 extending rearwardly from a generally planar outerportion 26. The floor 20 of the front tray 22 has an opening 28 locatedat the center of the circular recess 24.

As best shown in FIG. 12A, the border 18 has six biasing members 30integrally formed therein which function to hold boards inside cavity 22as described below. Each biasing member 30 is movable in an opening 32in the front tray 14. Although the drawings only show three biasingmembers 30 (two on the bottom and one on the left of FIG. 12), theborder 18 of front tray 14 has six biasing members 30, two on the top,two on the bottom and one on each side. However, any number of biasingmembers may be used.

As best shown in FIG. 3, towards an upper part of front tray 14 of theadjustable timer 10, two spaced openings 34 extend through the generallyrectangular front tray 14 of the adjustable timer 10. Each of theopenings 34 is illustrated as being circular and sized such that aperson may push a finger through the opening 34. However, the openingsmay be any desired shape or size.

As best shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 7, the rear tray 16 of the adjustabletimer 10 is unitary molded plastic piece having a perimeter portion 36extending from front to rear, an intermediate panel 38 extendinginwardly from the perimeter portion 36, a flange portion 40 extendingfrom front to rear generally parallel the perimeter portion 36 and arear panel 42. The rear panel 42 extends generally parallel theintermediate portion 38. As shown in FIG. 2, the flange portion 40 andrear panel 42 comprise a generally rectangular rear portion 43 of thebody 12 smaller in size than the generally rectangular rear portion 45of the body 12.

As best shown in FIGS. 3, 12, 13A and 13B, the rear tray 16 has twobosses 44 extending inwardly from the rear portion 42. Upon assembly,these bosses 44 align with the openings 34 in the front tray 14 tocreate two cylindrical passages 46 extending through the body 12 of theadjustable timer 10. These passages 46 enable a user to push the boardsout of the cavity 22 of the front tray 14 from behind the timer quicklyand easily to change the exposed board face of the timer. This processis illustrated by the arrows 48 shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B. Although thepassages 46 are illustrated being cylindrical and sized to enable aperson's finger to pass through each passage 46, the passages 46 may beany desired size and shape.

As best shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 3A, a control module 50 is held in agenerally rectangular gap 52 formed in the rear tray 16 by tabs 51formed in the front tray 14. The control module 50 includes a rotatableshaft 54 which rotates at a predetermined speed determined by a userrotating a knob 56 shown in FIG. 2. As best shown in FIG. 2, the knob 56is rotatable in a recess 58 formed in the rear portion 42 of the reartray 16 so the knob is protected and its setting fixed by a user doesnot accidently get changed.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the control module 50 is powered by twobatteries 55. The batteries 55 are held in a compartment 57 shown inFIG. 3A formed in the front tray 14. As best shown in FIG. 2, thecompartment 57 has a door 59 which may be removed to change batteries.

As best shown in FIG. 3, a circular-shaped colored disk 60 rotates inthe circular recess 24 of the floor 20 of the generally rectangularfront tray 14. The colored disk 60 has a slit 62 extending inwardly froman outer edge 64 to a central opening 66. The central opening 66 issized the rotatable shaft 54 of the control module 50 fits through thecentral opening 66. Because the colored disk 60 is secured to the shaft54, they rotate at the same rate or speed. Thus, one full rotation ofthe rotatable shaft 54 based on the setting of the control module 50equals one full rotation of the colored disk 60.

In front of the rotatable colored disk 60 is a background disk 68secured to the generally rectangular front tray 14 in the circularrecess 24 of the floor 20 of the generally rectangular front tray 14.The background disk 68 has a slit 70 extending inwardly from near anouter edge 72 to a central opening 74. The central opening 74 is sizedto allow the rotatable shaft 54 of the control module 50 to pass throughit, but is not shaped to latch onto the rotatable shaft 54. Therefore,the background disk 68 remains stationary and does not rotate with therotatable shaft 54. The slit 70 is sized to allow a portion of therotatable colored disk 60 to pass in front of the background disk tobecome visible and indicate elapsed or remaining time.

A circular lens 76 is secured to the rectangular front tray 14 andlocated in the circular recess 24 in front of the background disk 68. Asbest shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, the circular lens 76 has a centralportion 78, an outer portion 80 having a U-shaped cross-sectionincluding a slot 82 adapted to receive and retain a tab 84 of a marker86. One or more markers 86 may be placed at any desired location outsidethe circular lens 76 to indicate to a user that it is time for an eventor the time when the timer began. In other words, the markers 86 may beused to indicate any designated time. FIG. 3 illustrates one marker 86secured to the circular lens 76. As best shown in FIG. 2, when not inuse, any number of markers 86 are secured in a generally rectangularrecess 88 in the rear tray 16. FIG. 3 shows the recess 88 from the frontof the timer. The tabs 84 of the markers 86 friction fit into slots 90in a rear wall 92 of recess 88 to secure the markers 86 in recess 88.

Another component of the adjustable timer 10 is a positioner 94 securedto the shaft 54 of the control module 50. By rotating the positioner 94manually in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of theshaft 54 and colored disk 60, a user may set the time to elapse. In theembodiment illustrated, the shaft 54 is rotated in a clockwise directionby the control module 50 and the positioner 94 may be manually rotatedby a user in a counterclockwise direction. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and4C, the positioner 94 has a pointer 96 which points to the travelingedge 98 of the colored disk 60. The positioner 94 rotates with thecolored disk 60, the pointer 96 of the positioner 94 constantlytraveling with the traveling edge 98 of the colored disk 60.

As best shown in FIGS. 9, 10A and 10B, three boards 100 a, 100 b and 100c reside in the cavity 22 of the front tray 14 of the body 12 ofadjustable timer 10. Two additional boards 100 d and 100 e, shown indetail in FIGS. 11G-11J, may be sold separately. The adjustable timer 10may be sold with any number of boards in the cavity 22 of the front tray14 of the body 12 of adjustable timer 10. The boards residing in thecavity 22 of the front tray 14 of the body 12 of adjustable timer 10 arenot intended to be limited by the drawings. Any board displaying anydesired time period on either board face may be incorporated into theadjustable timer as long as the control module is programed such thatone full rotation of the shaft and colored disk occurs in the indicatedtime period on the board face.

Each of the boards 100 a-100 e is generally rectangular and has acircular cutout 102 through which the lens 76 passes. The boards may bemade of any desired material. One or more faces of one or more boardsmay be capable of being written upon, like a dry erase board.

As best shown in FIGS. 9, 10A and 10B, board 100 a is shown closest tothe generally planar outer portion 26 of the floor 20 of the front tray14 of the adjustable timer 10. As shown in FIG. 11E, board 100 a has afirst face 104 with numerical indicia indicating a two-hour time period.The numerical indicia are shown in ten minute increments and decrease ina clockwise direction. Board 100 a has a second face 106 which is blank,as shown in FIG. 11F. This blank second face 106 may be written upon ora user may put stickers thereon to indicate a time when an event shouldoccur.

As best shown in FIGS. 9, 10A and 10B, board 100 b is shown betweenboards 100 a and 100 c. Board 100 b has a first face 108 with numericalindicia indicating a thirty-minute time period. The numerical indiciaare shown in five minute increments and decrease in a clockwisedirection, as shown in FIG. 11E. Board 100 b has a second face 110 withnumerical indicia indicating a one-hour time period. The numericalindicia are shown in five minute increments and decrease in a clockwisedirection.

As best shown in FIGS. 9, 10A and 10B, board 100 c is shown being infront of boards 100 a and 100 b. Board 100 c has a first face 112 withnumerical indicia indicating a five-minute time period. The numericalindicia are shown in minute increments and decrease in a clockwisedirection, as shown in FIG. 11A. Board 100 c has a second face 114 withnumerical indicia indicating a fifteen-minute time period. The numericalindicia are shown in five minute increments and decrease in a clockwisedirection.

As best shown in FIGS. 11G and 11H, board 100 d has a first face 116with numerical indicia indicating a four-hour time period. The numericalindicia are shown in one hour increments and decrease in a clockwisedirection, as shown in FIG. 11G. Board 100 d has a second face 118 withnumerical indicia indicating an eight-hour time period. The numericalindicia are shown in one hour increments and decrease in a clockwisedirection.

As best shown in FIGS. 11I and 11J, board 100 e has a first face 120with numerical indicia indicating a twenty-four hour time period. Thenumerical indicia are shown in one hour increments and decrease in aclockwise direction, as shown in FIG. 11I. Board 100 e has a second face122 which is blank, as shown in FIG. 11J. This blank second face 122 maybe written upon or a user may put stickers thereon to indicate a timewhen an event should occur.

Although the drawings show first face 112 of board 100 c being thevisible board face, any of the faces of any of the boards may be thevisible face. However, a user must ensure that the control module 50 isset to the proper setting using the knob 56 shown in FIG. 2 so that onefull rotation of the shaft and colored disk occurs in the full timeperiod shown on the exposed face of the front board.

The adjustable timer 10 may be hung from a wall 124 in several mannersor may be supported by a supporting surface such as a desk using agenerally U-shaped mounting stand 126. The mounting stand 126 comprisestwo side portions 128 and a bottom portion 130. As best shown in FIG. 4,the bottom portion 130 may have a recess 131 which assist a person tograsp the bottom portion 130 and move the mounting stand 126 outwardfrom its first position as indicated by arrow 133 in FIG. 4. As bestshown in FIG. 14, each of the side portions 128 is pivotally joined tothe body 12 and more particularly, to the rear tray 16 of body 12 (onlyone being shown) to pivot about a pivot axis A shown in FIG. 4. As shownin FIGS. 13A, 13B and 14, each of the side portions 128 (only one beingshown) has a solid upper portion 132 and a hollow interior 134. As bestshown in FIG. 14, each solid upper portion 132 has two protrusions 136a, 136 b (only one being shown). As best shown in FIG. 14, each of theside portions 128 (only one being shown) has a head 138 and a neck 140.The head 138 has a rib 142 adapted to fit into one of three recesses 144a, 144 b and 144 c formed in plates 146 a, 146 b, as shown in FIG. 14.

The mounting stand 126 may be locked in one of three positions: a firstposition, a second position and a third position. The first position isshown in FIGS. 2, 4, 5A and 6A in which the side portions 128 of themounting stand 126 are parallel the body 12 of the adjustable timer 10and outside the flange portion 40 of the rear tray 16 of the adjustabletimer 10. Referring to FIGS. 5A and 14, when the mounting stand 126 islocked in the first position, the rib 142 of the head 138 is in a firstrecess 144 a formed in plate 146 a.

FIG. 4A shows the mounting stand 126 in its second position. As bestshown in FIG. 5B, when the mounting stand 126 is locked in the secondposition, the rib 142 of the head 138 is in a second recess 144 b formedin plate 146 a. In its second position, the side portions 128 of themounting stand 126 are at an acute angle relative to the body 12 of theadjustable timer 10.

FIGS. 4B and 4C show the mounting stand 126 in its third position. Asbest shown in FIG. 5C, when the mounting stand 126 is locked in thethird position, the rib 142 of the head 138 is in a third recess 144 cformed in plate 146 b. In its third position, the mounting stand 126 isgenerally above the body 12 of the adjustable timer 10. As shown in FIG.4C, when the mounting stand 126 is locked in the third position, themounting stand 126 may be hung from supports 148 such as screws, forexample.

As best shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 14, the intermediate portion 38 of therear tray 16 of the adjustable timer 10 has two U-shaped cuts 150, oneon each side of rear portion 43 of the body 12. The portion of theintermediate panel 38 of the rear tray 16 inside each of the U-shapedcuts 150 comprises a tab 152 which has a bump 154 adapted to receive andretain one of the protrusions 136 a, 136 b of each of the side portions128 of the mounting stand 126, depending upon the position of themounting stand 126. When the mounting stand 126 is in its firstposition, the protrusions 136 a of the mounting stand 126 are engagedwith the bumps 154 of tabs 152 of the intermediate panel 38 of the reartray 16 to keep the mounting stand 126 in its first position. See FIGS.6A-6D. When the mounting stand 126 is in its third position, theprotrusions 136 b of the mounting stand 126 are engaged with the bumps154 of tabs 152 of the intermediate panel 38 of the rear tray 16 to keepthe mounting stand 126 in its third position.

The adjustable timer 10 may be sold with a wall mount 156. The wallmount 156 comprises a rear wall 158, a floor 160 and a front lip 162.The rear wall 158 has two openings 164 for mounting the rear wall 158 ofwall mount 156 to a wall 124 with two fasteners 166 (only one beingshown in FIG. 8B). As shown in FIG. 8B, the front lip 162 passes throughan opening 168 in an upper wall 170 of a recess 172 formed in the rearportion 43 of the body 12. As best shown in FIGS. 2, 7, 8A and 8B, therecess 172 is generally rectangular and has a front wall 174, opposedside walls 175 and a bottom wall 176. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 8A, anopening 178 formed in the upper wall 170 of recess 172 may receive afastener 180 for mounting the adjustable timer 10 to a wall 124.

FIG. 8D illustrates another way of mounting the adjustable timer 10 to awall 124 using wall mount 156. As shown in FIG. 8D, the wall mount 156supports the bottom portion 130 of the mounting stand 126. The mountingstand 126 in its third position generally above the body 12 of theadjustable timer 10. More particularly, the front lip 162 of wall mount156 is in front of the bottom portion 130 of the mounting stand 126. Thefloor 160 of wall mount 156 passes underneath the bottom portion 130 ofthe mounting stand 126. Fasteners 182 (only one being shown in FIG. 8D)extending through openings 162 in the rear wall 158 of wall mount 156 tosecure the wall mount 156 to the wall 124.

FIG. 8C illustrates another way of mounting the adjustable timer 10 to awall 124. Like FIG. 8D, the mounting stand 126 in its third positiongenerally above the body 12 of the adjustable timer 10. FIG. 8Cillustrates a dry erase board holder 184 has a groove 186 extendingalong the top of the dry erase board holder 184. As shown in FIGS. 4Cand 8C, the bottom portion 130 of the mounting stand 126 has twoopenings 188 (only one being shown in FIG. 8C). S-shaped hooks 190 (onlyone being shown in FIG. 8C) extend through openings 188 and into upperopenings 186 of dry erase board holder 184 (only one being shown in FIG.8C).

As shown in FIG. 2, the adjustable timer 10 has two switches, an upperswitch 192 and a lower switch 194 each connected to the control module50. One of the switches is a three position switch for off, low or highvolume of a speaker 196. The other switch is a two position switch toenable or disable a five-minute audible pre-alert prior to the end ofthe time period. This second switch may be programmed to indicate when apredetermined time remains and may be turned on only when certain boardfaces are exposed and when the control module is set to match theexposed board face.

The various embodiments of the invention shown and described are merelyfor illustrative purposes only, as the drawings and the description arenot intended to restrict or limit in any way the scope of the claims.Those skilled in the art will appreciate various changes, modifications,and improvements which can be made to the invention without departingfrom the spirit or scope thereof. The invention in its broader aspectsis therefore not limited to the specific details and representativeapparatus and methods shown and described. Departures may therefore bemade from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of thegeneral inventive concept. For example, the faces of the boards may showdifferent time periods than those illustrated. The invention resides ineach individual feature described herein, alone, and in all combinationsof any and all of those features. Accordingly, the scope of theinvention shall be limited only by the following claims and theirequivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for displaying remaining and elapsedtime comprising: a generally rectangular body comprising a generallyrectangular front tray and a generally rectangular rear tray secured tothe generally rectangular front tray, the generally rectangular fronttray having a circular recess, the generally rectangular body having abattery compartment for storing at least one battery; a control modulelocated between the generally rectangular front and rear trays of thegenerally rectangular body, the control module being powered by said atleast one battery and including a shaft which rotates at differentrates, the rate of rotation of the shaft being determined by a usersetting a knob connected to the control module, a colored disk locatedin the recess of the generally rectangular front tray and secured to theshaft such that the colored disk rotates with the shaft; a stationarybackground disk located in the recess of the generally rectangular fronttray in front of the colored disk, the stationary background disk havinga slit through which a portion of the colored disk passes such that uponrotation of the shaft a portion of the colored disk rotates in front ofthe stationary background disk; a circular lens located in front of thestationary background disk and secured to the generally rectangularfront tray; boards removable secured in a cavity in the generallyrectangular front tray of the generally rectangular body, each of theboards having a circular opening through which the circular lens passes,at least one of the boards having numerical indicia on each face of theboard to indicate different time periods, each of the time periodscorresponding to one of the time periods programmed into the controlmodule; and a positioner secured to the shaft in front of the circularlens for manually setting the position of the rotatable colored disk. 2.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the generally rectangular body hasopenings therethrough for removing the boards from the cavity in thegenerally rectangular front tray.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising a generally U-shaped mounting stand pivotally secured to thegenerally rectangular body.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising a plurality of markers secured in a marker recess in thegenerally rectangular body, each of the markers being adapted to beremovably secured to the circular lens in a desired location.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 1, further comprising a wall mount.
 6. The apparatusof claim 1, further comprising a volume switch and a speaker.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the control module may be set to rotatethe shaft at more than four different speeds.
 8. An apparatus fordisplaying remaining and elapsed time comprising: a body comprising afront tray and a rear tray secured to the front tray, the front trayhaving a circular recess; a control module and at least one batterylocated between the front and rear trays of the body, the control modulebeing powered by said at least one battery and including a shaft whichrotates at different rates, the rate of rotation of the shaft beingsetting by a knob connected to the control module, a colored disklocated in the recess of the front tray and secured to the shaft suchthat the colored disk rotates with the shaft; a stationary backgrounddisk located in front of the rotatable colored disk, the stationarybackground disk having a slit through which a portion of the rotatablecolored disk passes upon rotation of the shaft and the rotatable coloreddisk; a circular lens secured to the front tray inside which rotatablecolored disk rotates; boards removable secured in a cavity in the fronttray of the body, each of the boards having a circular opening throughwhich the circular lens protrudes, each of the boards having numericalindicia on at least one face of the board to indicate different timeperiods, each of the time periods corresponding to one of the timeperiods programmed into the control module; and a positioner secured tothe shaft in front of the circular lens to enable a person to manuallyposition the rotatable colored disk.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8,further comprising a mounting stand pivotally secured to the body, themounting stand being movable between multiple predetermined positions.10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein at least some of the boards aredouble-sided, having numerical indicia on each face indicating differenttime periods.
 11. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising multipleswitches, at least one switch being a three position switch for off, lowor high volume of sound from a speaker located in the body of theapparatus.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the boards removableare secured in the cavity of the front tray of the body with at leastone biasing member.
 13. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprisingmarkers secured in a marker recess in the rear portion of the body. 14.The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the control module may be adjusted bya user turning a knob behind the body.
 15. The apparatus of claim 8,wherein front and rear trays of the body are generally rectangular. 16.An apparatus for displaying remaining and elapsed time comprising: abody comprising a front tray and a rear tray secured together, the bodyhaving a battery compartment for storing at least one battery, said atleast one battery powering a control module located in the body, thecontrol module determining the speed at which a shaft rotates to rotatea colored disk secured to the shaft to indicate elapsed and remainingtime; boards removable secured in a cavity in the front tray of the bodywith at least one biasing member, each of the boards having an openingthrough which a lens passes, at least one of the boards having numericalindicia marks on each face of the board to indicate different timeperiods, each of the time periods corresponding to one of the timeperiods programmed into the control module.
 17. The apparatus of claim16, further a mounting stand pivotally secured to the body.
 18. Theapparatus of claim 16, wherein the boards may be pushed out of thecavity through openings extending through the body.
 19. The apparatus ofclaim 16, wherein the lens is circular.
 20. The apparatus of claim 16,further comprising a wall mount.